The Nation

Alaska Man Kills Trooper, Children, Self

WASILLA, Alaska — A man shot and killed a state trooper, his two children, and himself Saturday after an argument with his girlfriend, police said.

Ryan Andrews, 24, was driving and arguing with his girlfriend, said state Trooper Greg Wilkinson. She jumped out of the vehicle to avoid being assaulted and fled, police said. When a trooper and an ambulance arrived, Andrews sped off, leading troopers on a chase that briefly reached speeds of up to 100 mph.

He stopped at his trailer, about 30 miles north of Anchorage, where he shot Trooper Hans Roelle, a 17-year veteran of the force, Wilkinson said.

Andrews then went inside, and troopers heard three more shots. Inside they found Andrews and the two children--a 3-year-old girl and 1-year-old boy--that he had with his girlfriend.

Roelle, 40, leaves a wife and four young children. He was the twelfth Alaska state trooper to die while on duty since Alaska became a state in 1959.

"Trooper Roelle was killed doing the simple basic things that troopers do every day," Wilkinson said. "He served valiantly and will be missed."